Golden Stars / Scarlett Johansson

Chapter 5: Morning Routines and Celebrity Drama

It was Wednesday morning, and Y/N sat cross-legged on the soft carpet of her apartment, a half-empty cup of tea resting beside her. The light streaming through the windows bathed the room in a golden glow, warming the space and casting long shadows across the floor. Cebrus lay sprawled out in front of her, his tail wagging lazily as she playfully tugged at one of his toys. The scene was peaceful, a quiet moment before the day's chaos unfolded.

But the silence didn't last long.

"So, apparently Chris Evans is shooting a new movie here in New York," Calie's voice broke through the quiet, her words fast and excited as she paced around the room. "Something about it being a romantic drama, and I swear, if it's anything like Before We Go, I'm going to lose my mind."

Y/N chuckled softly, her attention still half-focused on Cebrus, who was now trying to nudge his head into her lap. "You've been talking about that for days. I still don't know who Chris Evans really is, aside from the fact that you're obsessed with him."

"Obsessed?" Calie scoffed, though the grin on her face said otherwise. "Please. I'm just a fan. A very passionate fan. There's a difference."

Y/N smiled at her friend, who was now gesticulating wildly as she continued. "And there's been so much drama lately with these celebrities, you have no idea. Like, Ariana Grande was seen at a party with Selena Gomez, and people are saying they're collaborating on something new. Then, out of nowhere, Billie Eilish—yes, Billie—shows up, and the internet just loses its mind."

Y/N raised an eyebrow, only half-following Calie's rapid-fire celebrity gossip. "I didn't even know half of these people were friends."

Calie plopped down onto the couch, letting out a dramatic sigh. "Honestly, neither did I. But that's the beauty of it. One minute they're enemies, the next they're hugging it out at award shows. It's a soap opera, Y/N, and I love it."

Y/N laughed softly, reaching out to ruffle Cebrus's fur. "You could write a whole book on this stuff."

"If I ever do, you better read it," Calie shot back with a smirk. "Or at least pretend to."

"Of course," Y/N said, her voice teasing. "I'll add it to my very long reading list."

Calie rolled her eyes but didn't argue, clearly too wrapped up in her thoughts about celebrity drama to care. After a few more minutes of rambling, she let out a loud yawn, stretching her arms above her head before eyeing Y/N's small kitchen.

"I'm starving," she declared, standing up and wandering toward the fridge.

Y/N watched her go, amusement tugging at the corners of her lips. "Help yourself, I guess."

"You say that like I haven't done it a thousand times," Calie called back, already rummaging through the shelves. "Do you even have food in here, or are you living off air and tea?"

Y/N shook her head, a quiet laugh escaping her. "There's leftovers from last night, I think. I cooked something."

"Last night?" Calie's voice was muffled as she buried herself deeper into the fridge. "Well, let's see what we've got."

Y/N leaned back against the couch, still playing with Cebrus, who had now settled with his head resting on her lap. She could hear Calie moving things around in the kitchen, the familiar sound of containers opening and closing as she tried to figure out what to make.

After a few moments, Calie returned with a plate in hand, a mix of pasta and vegetables piled high. "You're lucky you can cook, or I'd starve when I come over."

"I wouldn't let you starve," Y/N said, watching her friend dig into the food. "I'd probably just send you to the nearest café."

Calie made a face, though it was clear she was enjoying the meal. "Noted."

They sat in comfortable silence for a while, the only sound being the occasional scrape of Calie's fork against the plate. Eventually, Y/N reached for the book she'd been reading earlier, flipping through the pages absentmindedly. The movement caught Calie's attention, and she glanced over, curiosity piqued.

"What's that one about?" Calie asked, her mouth full of pasta.

Y/N looked up, surprised that Calie had even noticed. "It's a romance novel. A bit of drama, too. The main characters are childhood friends who fall in love, but there's a lot of conflict—family issues, misunderstandings, all that."

Calie raised an eyebrow, setting her plate aside. "Sounds dramatic. How many people die?"

Y/N laughed softly. "None, so far."

"Well, that's disappointing," Calie said, though there was a playful glint in her eye. Despite her usual complaints about books, Y/N knew that Calie secretly enjoyed hearing about them—especially when Y/N was the one talking. There was something about the way Y/N described stories, her voice calm and thoughtful, that made even the most mundane plotlines sound interesting.

"So, they're childhood friends?" Calie asked, leaning forward slightly. "What's the conflict? A tragic backstory?"

Y/N nodded, closing the book as she settled back into her spot on the carpet. "Sort of. The girl's family doesn't approve of him. They think he's not good enough for her, and the boy's dealing with his own struggles. There's a lot of tension, and they keep misunderstanding each other's intentions. It's frustrating, but in a good way."

Calie hummed, clearly intrigued despite herself. "Sounds like the kind of thing I'd get invested in, only to scream at them for being idiots."

"That's basically what I've been doing the whole time," Y/N admitted, a small smile on her face. "But it's well-written. The emotions feel real, even when the characters are making bad decisions."

Calie sighed dramatically, resting her head against the back of the couch. "Why is it that every romance has to be filled with misunderstandings? Can't they just... talk to each other like normal people?"

"Where's the fun in that?" Y/N teased. "No drama, no plot."

"I guess," Calie muttered, though the faint smile on her face gave her away. Despite her sarcastic exterior, Y/N knew that Calie loved a good romance—especially one that could make her feel something, even if that something was frustration.

They talked for a while longer, Y/N describing the finer points of the novel while Calie interjected with her usual sarcastic commentary. It was a routine they'd fallen into over the years, and though Calie always pretended to hate books, Y/N knew she secretly enjoyed their conversations about them.

An hour passed in what felt like minutes, and before they knew it, it was time for both of them to leave. Y/N had work at the coffee shop, and Calie had her medical studies to attend to.

Standing by the door, Y/N pulled on her coat and glanced over at Calie, who was fixing her hair in the mirror. "You ready?"

"Ready as I'll ever be," Calie grumbled, though there was a hint of excitement in her voice. "Another thrilling day of pretending to care about medical ethics."

Y/N laughed softly, slipping her bag over her shoulder. "You love it, and you know it."

Calie shot her a mock glare, but there was no denying the truth. "Fine. Maybe I do. But don't tell anyone, or my reputation will be ruined."

They both headed out the door, stepping into the cool morning air. The city was already buzzing with life, cars honking in the distance and people rushing past on their way to work or school. Y/N and Calie walked side by side, their conversation flowing easily as they made their way to the subway station.

At the entrance, they paused, exchanging quick goodbyes before heading in opposite directions—Y/N to her job, and Calie to her classes. Despite the hectic day ahead, Y/N couldn't help but feel a small sense of peace as she watched her friend disappear into the crowd.

It was these simple moments—quiet mornings spent talking about books and movies, the shared laughter and sarcastic banter—that made everything else feel just a little bit more bearable.